Tips on recovering from partial achilles tear?

Tweaked it 2-1/2 weeks ago. Now every time out on court since then (twice per week), it takes fewer minutes before it flares up and has me hobbling. On Wednesday night it took half an hour of doubles before it flared up. Today it took only 10 minutes of singles baseline points before I was limping badly today.

This follows a period of remarkably good health for past 2 years. I was gaining confidence in my singles game, as when I'm healthy my speed and court coverage is my biggest weapon and I was getting pumped to use my speed advantage to be a force in over-40 4.5+ USTA singles.

But now, I worry that this could be a major setback. I'm thinking I need to take at least a month off from tennis and see if that helps.

1) it's not a "tweak," it's a partial tear. What is a tweak??
2) most experts recommend months away from tennis, sometimes as much as 6 to 12 months but that's usually for a more serious tear.
3) what this injury "follows" is irrelevant. Why mention it other than to delude yourself that all is really fine?

1) it's not a "tweak," it's a partial tear. What is a tweak??
2) most experts recommend months away from tennis, sometimes as much as 6 to 12 months but that's usually for a more serious tear.
3) what this injury "follows" is irrelevant. Why mention it other than to delude yourself that all is really fine?

1) it's not a "tweak," it's a partial tear. What is a tweak??
2) most experts recommend months away from tennis, sometimes as much as 6 to 12 months but that's usually for a more serious tear.
3) what this injury "follows" is irrelevant. Why mention it other than to delude yourself that all is really fine?

when you're going out and playing immediately after a partial achilles tear, you absolutely need to be made to feel worse about it, as you're risking a complete tear. Were you expecting a little smoke blown up an orifice with the advice to only use natural gut??

Not a physician but if you know it's a partial tear you need to give it significant time to heal the tear. I'd suspect that would be weeks of rest. It sounds you might have a sever case of tendonitis. I believe the prescription for that is rest as well along with a good stretching program to increase the flexibility in the calves and the associated tendons. Just my 0.02

I suffered from achillies tendonits for months. Right around Christmas time, I went to a running store to see if they had any type of support sleeve. I purchased this, https://os1st.com/product/foot-compression-sleeve/, and it helped immensely. I wore them day and night for a few weeks and I'm now pretty much healed. Best of luck..

I suffered from achillies tendonits for months. Right around Christmas time, I went to a running store to see if they had any type of support sleeve. I purchased this, https://os1st.com/product/foot-compression-sleeve/, and it helped immensely. I wore them day and night for a few weeks and I'm now pretty much healed. Best of luck..

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Thanks. I might try that out.

I've had tightness/soreness in my achilles tendons in the past, but this time is different. The first tweak was in front of the tendon on the ankle. Each time I try to play, the flare-up soreness is higher up the tendon. Now the sore spot is up more spread out and near the base of the calf muscle.

I'm going to see if I can get a referral for physical therapy before the scarring gets too bad.

Not a physician but if you know it's a partial tear you need to give it significant time to heal the tear. I'd suspect that would be weeks of rest. It sounds you might have a sever case of tendonitis. I believe the prescription for that is rest as well along with a good stretching program to increase the flexibility in the calves and the associated tendons. Just my 0.02

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Thanks. I'm actually encouraged that my sorest area is higher up on the tendon, so might be partly in the muscle. In the past, I was able to make full recoveries from a severe hamstring injury by incorporating a stretch-while-warm regimen into my treadmill workouts. I don't think tendon responds to stretching quite as well as muscle.

Thanks. I'm actually encouraged that my sorest area is higher up on the tendon, so might be partly in the muscle. In the past, I was able to make full recoveries from a severe hamstring injury by incorporating a stretch-while-warm regimen into my treadmill workouts. I don't think tendon responds to stretching quite as well as muscle.

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I typed a longer response that got deleted ... I have no idea why. But briefly:
1) back of leg is all connected ... stretch calf and hamstring
2) replacement insoles with heel pad (I use sof sole airr orthodics) cured my Achilles issues years ago ... still use same sof sole. My soreness wasn't as bad as yours, you should be careful. I know two players that had complete rupture. They both came back 100% after surgery.
3) when I researched Achilles issues, many were suggesting using heel pads (thin) under your insoles to slightly raise the heel. The thinking was reducing the upward flex of the foot reduced the stress/pull on achilles. I have no idea if this is valid, but I recently did this myself when I changed to shoes that appeared to be lower in the heel. I cut heel pads out of the cheap insoles that come with tennis shoes, and put them under the sof soles. I liked the way it feels, and have played with them for months.

My Achilles pain was impact pain landing ... like after an overhead. It was Edit: NOT constant pain during the point. I think the heel cushioning helped reduce that landing impact.

I've had tightness/soreness in my achilles tendons in the past, but this time is different. The first tweak was in front of the tendon on the ankle. Each time I try to play, the flare-up soreness is higher up the tendon. Now the sore spot is up more spread out and near the base of the calf muscle.

I'm going to see if I can get a referral for physical therapy before the scarring gets too bad.

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you got it... Now, I ended up using gel inserts for the first time and switched shoes, all of which helped. In the morning, I still wake up with some tightness that loosens after a little walking, but when wearing the sleeve at night, I don't experience the tightness. My chiropractor that keeps me put together, has an achillies tear and I recommended to him. They are helping him as well. Good luck on your recovery. I switched to Asics Court FF shoe and they fit like a glove at the ankle. There is no movement at the ankle at all. Again, a bunch of changes were made and I'm so happy to be back on the courts pain free.

Tweaked it 2-1/2 weeks ago. Now every time out on court since then (twice per week), it takes fewer minutes before it flares up and has me hobbling. On Wednesday night it took half an hour of doubles before it flared up. Today it took only 10 minutes of singles baseline points before I was limping badly today.

This follows a period of remarkably good health for past 2 years. I was gaining confidence in my singles game, as when I'm healthy my speed and court coverage is my biggest weapon and I was getting pumped to use my speed advantage to be a force in over-40 4.5+ USTA singles.

But now, I worry that this could be a major setback. I'm thinking I need to take at least a month off from tennis and see if that helps.

Any tips for faster recovery of this worrisome injury?

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I had a partial tear of mine this past summer. I had to take multiple months off of tennis and go to physical therapy.
The butter knife that they run you over with is going to suck. Bad.
But the tendon has not been an issue since.

See a good physical therapist and take a good amount of time off. If in doubt, sit out.